The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1887-04-28

WAS sPLENDlDLf EXECUTED.
and for time seemed resistless They came
down the hill i'm double line Of battle. with their
guns at a right shoulder shift. and in what ap-
pesred 10 US perfect alignment
While this was being done the artillery on
the hill and the forces we had driven back kept
mp a constant aud severe fire upon our line.
This new assaulting force came grandly on.
From the moment it came out from cover all Of
our artillery in range hurled shot and shell,
grape aud canister, 10 which was added the
storm of lead from the infantry. Great gaps
were made in the line, yet the men came on
and closed up the gaps without wayer, and
advanced directly on the position we held,
led by ah officer on a white horse, who kept a
few PAGES in the advance. He was a conspcu-
Gus mark for all, but seemed TO bear a charmed
life, as, though many men deliberately fired at
him. he was not harmed.
Soon after uncovering, the double line OF
battle opened fire on us aud continued, one
yolley after another, in quick succession. This
fire, added TO what we already had 10 bear,
made il terrible for men TO endure. When the
advance Of this line reached the foot-hills and
rough ground upon which we were, the un-
eyenneSs Of the ground broke up
THEIR SPLENDID LINE
aud caused confusion in their ranks such as
our fire had been unable TO produce. Then we
succeeded in stopping them. The line reorgan-
aEfd anu aNittulath 10 bub WAS uOt
able TO move us. Time and again the effort was
made. each time TO fail.
These attacks were all directed against our
division. We held the Jackson road, and if
Pemberton desired 10 escape that was his way
out. Possibly that was the reason for his per-
sistent attempts 10 drive us back. Possibly
another reason was, that about the time he be-
gan his attack, Gen. Logan had got his diyis-
ion on the road TO Yicksburg. To get out of
tho hoN ha trac in ~ az that Pam her
ton should clear one road or the other. Ii was
a life-or-death struggle for that army. If it
could not open a way out it must be captured,
and its days of usefulness ended. He chose for
some reason 10 fight for the Jackson road,
and consequently we received the full force of
the blow-the full measure OF his power.
In advancing and falling hack We had become
somewhat disOrganized. There was no time
for reforming the division. The attack was
kept up vigorously from the time it commenced
until il was ended.
THERE WAS NO CESSATION
or lull in the battle, but it ragged from 10
o'clock until about 4, when the enemy was
defeated
1t has been said, and presume it is true,
that ut the time the enemy turned on us and
drove us back he Outnumbered US four or five
10 one. During this terrible struggle for that
hill and the jackson road Gen. Maginnis went
hibl- lib ilnG Oi Ills lutu ou loOls anu III MS
quiet, inspiring way said TO the men:
Hold on a little longer, boys; hold on a
little longer, boys, and Gen. Crocker will come
up"
The boys did "hold on little longer They
held 10 the hill until Gen. Crocker came up,
and then, with the aid of that gallant division
and the help Of the intrepid and dashing Logan,
who with his division had been pounding away
on the rebel left flank, we made a grand last
affa rof fbana CT nn hn anI fha
battle of Champion Hills was oyer-a great
victory won. The road to Vicksburg WAS open
and the success of the campaign assured. In
this battle our division lost ], ,202-more than
oNE-THIRD OF THOSE ENGAGED.
When the enemy came out from their cover
TO make the counter-charge it was the grand
est display of courage and determination /
have ever witnessed. The men marched as if
on parade. As the fire of grape, canister and
small-arms cut gaps in their lines they closed
10 the right with absolute precision and with
out confusion and kept an almost perfect align
ment. When the time came for them 10 fire
they did il in the best of order steadily ad-
vancing, and taking no note of the fearful de-
struction. The slaughter was fearful TO behold.
Yet on they came, every man exhibiting a de-
termination TO conquer or die. The officer who
led them, riding a white horse, seemed 10 care
not for the lead and iron hurled at him and
uls l1l4bAtIN. SUCH Was HIS GnlAuCL IlAl ue
and they won our admiration, enemies though
they were. / would like 10 know who that
officer was, and what became Of him.
When the charge began Capt. Mitchell. with
two guns Of his battery-the 10th Ohio-kept
along with the advance line serving them in
the best possible manner. When the massed
forces Of the enemy made the counter-charge
he was by his guns, on horseback, and had Just
given. the order to the gunner TO fire to the
ric inf fba lfua hot aHu
position-his guns were on the left of our regi-
ment-when he was shot, and taken from his
horse by Private J. 4. Mowery, of our regi-
ment, aud died that night 1 believe il il had
not been for The help Of those two guns at that
time we could not have maintained our position.
NE GAVE HIS LIFE
to save the brigade in which he had so much
pride and the Union he loved so well. In his
death the Nation lost a gallant defender, the
brigade true friend and supporter and the
battery one who was like father TO the men,
All deplored his loss. Many aud many just as
good men fell that day whose loss was just as
much felt by their comrades as his was. but
who were not SO widely and well known as was
Capt Mitchell.
This battle was fought and won by Hoycy's
Division, of the Thirteenth Corps and Logan's
and Crockers Divisions, Of the Seventeenth
Corps.
AZ one llint, dibtT we idu lallcn Dack 10 the
line we finally held 10 the end Of the action an
attempt was made 10 correct the line Of battle.
This placed my company directly across the
Jackson road and near the house with the
picket fence around it, The enemy was in the
edge of wood beyond; just as we wheeled across
the road a rebel brigade in the edge OF the
wood arose and gave US a volley-One of those
stunning fires that takes away the breath aud
makes men reel. Fortunately for US they fired
too low and hurt but one man in the company.
William Pfouts was killed, and better man
never defended the Stars and Stripes.
j ordered the men 20 at once fall back TO
| their old position under cover This they did
quickly, and not a moment too soon. We had
| just got under cover when another yolley, il
possible
MORE SEVERE THAN THE OTHER
1 was given. None but those who have felt the
binding blighting aud withering effect Of such
a fire can form any conception of what we felt
| then or know what my company went through
| there. Ii seemed as though it fairly took of
/ their feet men who were not even touched by
/ a bullet. This last volley was followed by a
storm Of lead and iron, and il was worth a
mans life 10 move.
While this was going on Peter Mace a Ger
man in my company, came to me- took the
! position Of a soldier, and saluted. j asked him
what the matter was. lie said his gun had
been shot through, and was useless. / told him
! 10 throw ii away aud fnd another aud take
| his place in line. lie did so. but shortly re-
| turned, carrying his gun in his left hand He
| did not salute but reported that he had been
| shot through the right arm. told him 10 20
10 the rear. lie wanted 10 know what he